Happy Birthday, Zander!

Today we went down to Georgia to celebrate Zander's 3rd birthday! His party was at a place called the Bounce House (an indoor all inflatable party place...fun!!) The kids (and adults) had a GREAT time, as you can see!

Katie and Camden playing together

Katie going head-first!
Zander and Katie climbing up the wall
Camden's loving it!
Daddy and Camden sliding down fast!

Grandpa Ballou pushing Zander and Katie on Zander's new playset in his yard
Zander using his present from Ben...cymbals!
Grandma Ballou helping the newest band members
What a day! This is how Katie spent the ride home:

This is how Camden spent the ride home:

Some Recent Activities

Katie's Crafting Corner
I should show you a before and after picture of this area of the playroom...but all you're getting is the after. The before was just a BIG pile of craft materials on the floor. It's hard to tell in the picture, but the colored drawers on the cart are green, red, blue, and purple...the same colors as the playroom!!! (I planned that, of course...)

Camden's Paperclip Fun
Did you have any idea how much fun it is to take every paperclip out of the box and throw it on the floor? :)

Snuggly Sisters
When Katie got home from Jr. Red Raiders camp at Baylor today, (and we had all dried off from being caught in the torrential downpour!) the girls decided to snuggle together on Katie's bed.

The Butterfly Garden at the Aquarium

Today we visited the Tennessee Aquarium and had lots of fun...enough for 2 days! The top of the Aquarium is where the Butterfly Garden is located. Katie was so excited to go to that part that she wore a shirt with a butterfly on it, a butterfly purse, and butterfly wings on her back!
Here is Katie holding a butterfly! It was a fuzzy one called an owl something b/c of the big false eye on its wings.
Katie and Ben were able to get this blue morpho butterfly (at least that's what we think it is ~ that's what the one on Diego looks like!)
This is Ben transferring the butterfly to Katie's hands off the screen window at the Butterfly Garden!
And I just thought these pictures were really cool shots of the butterflies we took today.

What a Beautiful Day

Today is my 34th birthday and it was a beautiful one! I got to spend the day with my family and friends, (the Schumachers are in town visiting us this week!) so what could be better? I got to talk to far away family and for my text-savvy friends, (you know who you are) yes I got your messages but I don't know how to write you back! Thank you!
We visited the Creative Discovery Museum downtown and had dinner at the Olive Garden. Great times!!

Camden and me before dinner
All of us during dinner!
Camden, calming down outside (you would never know she was so wiggly she couldn't be contained inside the building just prior to this photo!)
Lane giving Camden sweet kisses!
Katie, me, Tricia, and Lane with Ben's famous red-velvet cake
Camden at the very first exhibit at the museum: Splash Zone!

Katie and her Clifford puppy dog ears
Lane and Katie play the piano
Camden's latest expression: "Oh!"
All of that was too much fun for this little one. She conked out as soon as we were in the car!
Like I said, it was a beautiful day!

Tennessee Riverpark

Today we took a break from unpacking and got out to enjoy the outdoors a little bit. We took a picnic lunch down to the Tennessee Riverpark and ate, played, and walked around by the river. You can see how beautiful it is!

The girls playing in the dirt! Camden was filthy after this picture...

That's Katie getting a head start on the walk. She's kind of far away but I thought it was a pretty view of part of the park.

Ben found a nice, air-conditioned pavilion where there's an ice-cream shop! We stopped for a bite of dessert...everyone enjoyed it!

Here's Ben, Camden, and Katie posing by a fish statue. I think it was called "A Big Catch" or something close to that anyway.

And here are Katie, Sue, and Camden on the pier by the river.

We had great fun, but by the end the little ones were worn out. Both girls are taking afternoon naps right now!